Chickens stand in their cage at the Rose Acre Farms, Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, near Stuart, Iowa. About 96 percent of eggs sold in the United States come from hens who live in the so-called battery cages from the day they’re born until their egg-laying days end 18 to 24 months later. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) 

Modesto egg farmer Eric Benson, chief executive of JS West, said Thursday he didn’t know if bigger cages made his hens happier, but he does know they lay more eggs, live longer and have stronger bones…

Bigger cages

Benson told the Senate Agriculture Committee that the nation should embrace humane standards for hens, under a bill by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., based on Prop. 2. It would set a national standard of doubling the size of hen cages.

But the idea has drawn a fierce backlash from other livestock producers and their House allies who fear that humane standards will spread to other farm animals, especially pigs…

sfgate, 26.07.12.

guess who i’m named after.